Controller for power-operated devices.



T. H. RODMAN.

CONTROLLER FOR POWER OPERATED DEVICES. APPLICATION FILED MAR-3,1911.

Patented Dec, 25, 1917.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS H. RODMAN, OF NEW YORK, 1\T. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE CUTLER-HAMMERMFG. (10., 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

CONTROLLER FOR POWER-OPERATED nnvrcns.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 3, 1911. SerialNo. 611,981.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. RODMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county of New York, and

State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements inControllers for controllers for power operated devices. It

is particularly adapted for motor operated printing presses, but is notlimited-in its application to' this particular class of machinery.

In printing presses and many other-devices operating upon runs or websof paper or other material it is necessary to be able to feed or threadthe web through the mechanism at a relatively slow range of speed,commonly called the threading speed, and after the web is entirelythreaded to run the device at a relatively much higher range of speedwhich may be designated the operating speed. A breakoccurring 1n or any,other interruption of the run or web while the device is at operatingspeedis likely toeause serious injury to the machinery or waste ofmaterial before the trouble can be observed and the device brought to astop. v

It is one object of my invention to pro vide an improved controllerwhich will automatically stop. a press or other device upon interruptionof the supply of paper or other material fed therethrough, due to'breakage thereof or from any other cause.

Another object of'the invention is to provide a controller, inconnection with multiple speed devices, which automatically becomesefiective to stop the device when predetermined conditions occur whilethe device is running-at certain speeds but is ineffective to'stop thedevice while it is running at other speeds.

A further object of my invention is to provide means whereby after thepress or other d'evice has been stopped, it may be restarted atrelatively slow or threading speed witlrout regard to the position ofthe inter" ruption detector, but may not be brought up to operatingspeed until said detector has been restored to normal position.

Various other objects and advantages of my invention will be hereinafterclearly and fully set forth.

In order to more fully disclose the nature and characteristic featuresof my inveniion, I shall describe the controller diagrammati- PatentcdDec. 25, 1917.

cally illustrated in the accompanying draw- I ing, which embodies myinvention in one form. It should be understood, however, that myinvention is not limited to the specific embodiment illustrated.

' The controller illustrated is adapted for the control of a printingpress providing the proper speed ranges by a two motor drive, one motorbeing used for slow or threading speeds and the other for high oroperating speeds. For the purpose of simplifying the drawing, I haveomitted illustration of the press and have merely shown schematically apaper roll 1 F or the purposes of this explanation, it maybe assumedthat the paper is run from the roll 1 over a small roll 2 directly intothe machine and automatically fed into the machine when it is inoperation.

I have diagrammatically illustrated a small motor 8 for operating thepress at slow or threading speeds and a large motor 4 for operating thepress at normal operating or high speeds. These motors have shunt fieldwindings F and'F respectively connected in parallel directly across thesupply lines L and L. The armature circuits of the motors 3-and L arecontrolled by electrore sponsive switches 5 and 6 respectively. -Theswitch 6 has an auxiliary contact 7 adapted when said switch is open tobridge two stationary contacts for a puroperating windings to maintainthe same.

energized when they have once responded. Switches 10 and 11 are providedto short circuit the resistances 8 and 9 respectively. These switchesare biased to open the short circuits'around their respectiveresistances,

' spectively.

but are arranged to be held in short circuiting position by latches'18and 19 reranged to be operated to release their respective switches uponresponse of the switches and 6 respectively.

The speeds of the motors 3 and 4 are adapted to be regulated by arheostat20.

.As illustrated this. rheostat com rises a pivoted arm 21 having mountedthereon "three electrically independent brushes 22, 23 and 24. The brush22 is adapted. to engage and to be moved over a. seriesof contactsegments The brush 23 is adapted to engage a se nent 26 andithe brush 24a segment 27. o predetermined number of the contact segments 25 isconnected a resistance 28 tor the small motor 3. Connected to theremainder of they contact segments 25 is a resistance 29 for the largemotor 4. The arm 21 of the rheostat is provided with lugs 30 and 31adapted upon movement of said arm, to'the position illusswitches 10 and11 to move the same into closed position in which position, they areautomatically locked by their respective latching devices 13 and 19.

As will he hereinafter clearly set forth, the

controller, as thu far described, is capable r the press automaticallyupon breakage, or

other interruption of the supply of the paper fed into the press. Thismechanism comprises a switch located in close proximity to the paper fedinto the press. Of course, the switch may be located at any desiredpoint and any desired number thereof may be employed. The switch 33compr1ses a bracket 34 adapted to be secured to any suitable part of thepress and carrying stationary contacts 35 and a movable bridgingcontact36. The contact 36 .is carried by a bell crank lever 37 fulcrumed tothebracket 34. The bell crank lever 37 carries a roller 38 bearing upon thepaper or Web of the press. The parts of the switch 33 are so designedand adjusted as to remain in closed position so long as the paper or webof the press remains intact and to automatically open when the paper orweb breaks or its supply is terminated or the tension therein becomesinsutlicient to hold the switch closed. The switch, as will behereinafter explained, is adapted upon opening to deenergize bothswitches 5 and 6 to stop both motors. lVhemhowevcr, the switch 6 opens,its auxiliary contact 7 short circuits the ,switch 33, therebypermitting, the press to be restarted in the usual manner by the switch5. long, however, as the swltch 33 remains open press can only beoperated The latches 18 and 19 are arfunctions :of the controllerassuming the at slow or threading speed by the small mm tor 3.

I shall now describe the operation and ing the armature circuit of motor3 from main line L through rheostat arm 21 and resistance 28, conductor45, switch 5, conductor 46 and through said motor armature to main lineL. The motor 3 thereupon starts setting the press in operation atslow'speed. Continued movement of the arm .21 short circuits theresistance 28 gradually increasing the speed of the motor 3 and inconsequence the speed of the press through the threading speed range.

When all of the resistance 28 has been removed from circuit the arm 21engages segment 27 to complete the circuit of the operating winding ofswitch 6. This circuit may be traced from main line L arm 21, contactsegment 27, conductor 47, switch 11, the operatingwinding of switch 6,and thence in parallel through to conductor42, switch 33 and conductor43, and conductor 50 and switch 7 to main line L as already resistance29, conductor 48. through said switch and through said motor armature tomain line L. The motor 4 thereupon starts to take up the drive of thepress. Continued movement of the arm 21 gradually removes the resistance29 to accelerate the motor and in consequence accelerate the pressthrough the operating speed range. predetermined distance the arm 21leaves the contactsegment 26, thereby deenergizing the switcho and inconsequence stopping the small motor.

As soon as theswitches 5 and 6 respond they operate the'latches 18 and19 respectively to release the switches 10 and 11 respectively. Thisinserts the resistance 8 and 9 in series with the windings of switches 5and 6 respectively. In consequence, if either motor switch isdeenergizedsufliciently to open it it cannot again be energizedsufiiciently to close it until. the arm 21 is restored to initialposition to reclose the shortcircuiting switches 10 and 11.

To Stop thepress, it is only necessary to return the arm 21 to initialposition, or if When moved a desired, push buttons might be provided for"le'e'nergizing the switches 5 and 6 independently of the rheostat.

I shall now describe the functions of the switch 33. Ordinarilv, thereis little likelihood of the web or paper of the press breaking, exceptwhen the pres is running at high or operating speed, or in other words,when driven by the large motor. If the paper did break while the presswas operating at slow or threading speed, or in other words, when drivenby the small motor, there would be no necessity for stopping the press.In fact when the web breaks it is necegsary to run the press at a slowspeed in order to again thread the webthrough. We will therefore assumefor the sake of illustration, that the paper breaks while the press isoperating at high speed after the small motor has been disconnected fromcircuit. In such an-event the switch 33 would open. As has beenpreviously seen, the switch 33 is included in circuit with the operatingwindin s of both switches 5 and 6. In consequence, when the switch 33opens, it deenergizes switch 6, which thereupon opens disconnecting thelarge motor 4 from'circuit'. The press therefore comes to rest. Furtheroperation of the press can only be-obtained by the gsturn of therheostat arm to initial position, and then subsequent clockwise movementthereof. After the arm has been returned to initial position and thenmoved into engagement with segment 26, circuit will be closed throughthe operating winding of switch 5, as already described, to conductor41. Ilrom this point with the switch 33 open and the auxiliary contactof switch 6 in the closed position illustrated,'the circuit willcontinue by conductor 50 through the auxiliary contact 7 to conductor 44and thence to themain line L; Switch 5 will thereupon respond, againsetting in operation the small motor and in consequence the press, Thiswill enable the attendant to rethread the press without stopping tolocate or reset the interruption or break detector. When the paper orweb has been properly rethreaded through the press, the switch 33 willbe automatically reclosed by the tension on the web, whereby, uponfurther movement of the rheostatarm, the switch 6 may be againclosed'and the large motor restarted to again bring the press. up tofull speed. i I

If an attempt should be made to bring the press up to full speed whilethe switch- 33 was open, the result would be only momentary energizationof the switch 6, inasmuch as upon responding it would immediately openits energizing circuit by raising its auxiliary contact 7. Thus, whilethe switch 33 is open, the pressxmay beoperated at slow speed by themotor 3, but; cannot be operated by the large motor 4.

Ifthe web should break during the period both motors are operating, thatis, while brushes 23 and 24 are simultaneously enupon be stopped and inorder to restart the press the small motor must be started at its lowerspeed because switch 5 cannot be again closed until the resistance 8 hasbeen short circuited by the return of switch 10 in a manner hereinbeforedescribed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

.1. In a controller for power operated devices, in combination, meansfor starting the device and causing the same to operate at slow speed orrelatively high speed, and means associated therewith to cause saiddevice to be automatically stopped upon the occurrence'of redeterminedconditions, said last mentioned of the device to operate at slow speed,but preventing its operation at high speed so long as said conditionsprevail.

2. In a controller for power operated devices, in combination, means forstarting and stopping the device-and regulating its speed betweenprescribed limits, and means associated therewith adapted underpredetermined conditions to automatically cause the device to bestopped,said last mentioned means permitting restarting of the device while saidconditions prevail, but restricting the eii'ectiveness of said firstmentioned means to vary the speed of the device.

3. In a controller for power operated devices, in combination, means forstarting and varying the speed of the device between prescribed limits,and means associated therewith adapted upon occurrence of predeterminedconditions to cause the device to be stopped and adapted until reset topermit restarting of the device, but to prevent the device frombeina-accelerated beyond a predetermined degre e.

4:. Ina controller for power operated devices, in combination, means forstarting the device at will and regulating'the speed means permittingrestarting Tlt thereof, and automatically operated means associatedtherewith to cause the'device to be stopped under predeterminedconditions and to restrict the effectiveness of said firstmentionedkmeans to vary the speed of the device.

5. In a controller for motor operated devices, in combination, twelectroresponsive switches, one of said switches upon responding beingadapted to cause the device to operate at a'low speed. and the other ofsaid switches upon responding being ada ted to cause the device tooperate at a re atively high speed, and automatic means associated withsaid switches to denergize l the same under predetermined conditions tostop the device, said first mentioned switch being adapted to be againenergized while said conditions prevail, but said second'men at a slowspeed, an electroresponsive switch -for causing the deviceto be operatedat a relatively high. .speed,'a master switch for energizing saidswitches and means adapted to automatically operate under predeterminedconditions to deenergize said second mentioned switch and to render saidmaster switch ineffective to cause, closure of said second mentionedswitch so long as said conditions prevail, said first mentioned switchbeing always responsive to said master] switch lrrespectlve of sandmeans.

7. In a controller for power operated devices, in combination, anelectroresponsive switchadapted to cause the device to be operated at. aslow speed, an electroresponsiveswitch adapted to cause the device to beoperated at a relativel high speed, and means associated therewitadapted to automatically operate under predetermined conditions todeenergize both of said switches,

said second mentioned switch upon being deenergized being adapted toestablisha ciredit for the operating winding of, said first mentionedswitch independent of said means whereby said first mentioned switch maybe again energized while said conditions prevail.

8. In a controller for a device having a low speed motor and arelatively high speed motor for driving the same, in' combination, meansfor controlling both motors at will and means adapted to .automaticallyoperate under predetermined conditions to cause both motors to bedisconnected from circuit and to prevent subsequent operation of thehigh speed motor so long as said conditions prevail, said first mentionemeans being effective to restart the low speed motor irrespective ofsaid second mentioned means. 9. In a controller for power operatedprinting presses and the like, in combination, means for causing thepress to be operated at a slow speed, or a relatively high speed, and aswitch adapted to automatically operate upon breakage of the web of thepress to cause the press to be stopped, said means being adapted torestart the motor prior to resetting of said switch, but said .switchuntil reset restricting the speed of the press obtainable with saidfirst mentioned means.

10.. In a controller for printing presses having a plurality ofoperating motors for operating the same at different speeds, icombination, means for separately contro;

ling the'motors, and a switch'aolapted to tomatically operate uponbreakage of the web of the press to cause all of the driving motors tobe stopped and until reset tc permit restarting only of the motor fordriving the press at slow speed.

11. In a controller for power-operated devices, in combination, twomotors .ior operating the device at different speeds, sue-- cesslvelyoperating controlling means for said motors, and mechanically controlledmeans r101- automatically stopping the operated device under certainconditions.

' '12. In a controller for power operated printing presses, incombination, electroresponsive control means-for slow speed,electro-responsive control means for a high speed, a switch responsiveto break "6 01. the web of the press to dee'nergize said secondmentioned means and until reset to vent fsubsequt energization thereofand energizing connections for said first mentioned means independent ofsaid switch.

13. In a controller for power driven printing presses, in combination,electro-respon sive controlling means for slow speed, else--tro-responsive' controlling means for a higher speed, a switchresponsiveto breakage of the web of the press to deenergize said seeondmentioned means and energizing con-.

nections for said first mentioned means independent of said switch butdependent upon predetermined positioning of said second mentioned means.3

14. In combination, a printing press, a motor for driving the same at arelatively slow speed, a motor for driving said press at a relativelyhigh speed, control. means for said motors and a device governing saidmotor control. means to stop said. press upon breakage of the web, saiddevice until reset insuring against operation-OI said press by saidsecond mentioned motor but permitting restarting of said press andoperation thereof by said first mentioned motor.

15. In combination, a printing press, a motor for driving the same at aslow speed, a-motor for driving the same at a high speed. and controlmeans for said motors including a switch operable upon breakage of theweb to stop said second motor and until reset to insure againstrestarting thereof and means for eflectin g operation of said firstmotorindrive motor independent of said paper break switch but dependent uponsaid other electroresponsive switch.

17. In a controller for power operated devices, the combination of meansfor operating thedevice at operating and threading speeds, and means forstopping the device under predetermined conditions only when saidconditions occur while the device is being run at operating speed.

18. In a controller for powep operated devices, the combination of meansfor opcr ating the device at threading and operating speeds, means forstopping the device under predetermined conditions, and means renderingthe stopping means ineffective when the conditions occur while thedevice is being run at threading speed.

device upon predetermined conditions arising while the device is beingrun atoperating speed, but not while it is being run at threading speed,and means permitting the subsequent operation of said device atthreading speed but not at operating speed while said conditionsprevail.

21. A controller for power operated presses and similar devices adaptedto act upon a web of material, comprising in combination means fordriving the press at a web-threading speed and for thereafter drivingthe press at operating speeds, power switches for causing said means todrive the press at threading and operating speeds, and a switch affectedby abnormal conditions occurring in the web only while the press isrunning at operating speeds to cause said power switches to atl'ect saidmeans to stop the press, preventing the running of the press atoperating speeds as long as said ab.-

. normal conditions obtain and automatically acting upon thereestablishment of normal conditions in the web to allow said means toagain drive the press at operating speeds.

22. A controller for power operated presses and similar devices adaptedto act; upon a web of material, comprising in combination means fordriving the press at a Web-threading speed and at operating speeds, aslow speed switch for controlling said means to drive the press atthreading speed, a high speed switch for controlling said means to drivethe press at operating speeds, a web-switch affected by abnormalconditions in the web only while said means is under the control of thehigh speed switch to stop the press, and means under the control of thehigh speed switch for subse quently allowing the slow speed switch to 7cause the drivingv means to run the press at threading speed during thecontinuance of the abnormal conditions, said web-switch preventing thehigh speed switch from causing said driving means to run the press abovethreading speed so long as said abnormal conditions obtain. v

23. In combination with'a web press or similar device, driving meanstherefor capable of running the press at threading or operating speeds,a switch for controlling the supply of power to said means for drivingat threading speed, a switch for controlling the supply of power to saidmeans for drivingat operating speed, a manually actuated controller forcontrolling both of said switches, a web-switch affected by abnormalconditions in the web to remove all power from said means to stop thepress, and means under the control of saidswitches and said controllerfor preventing the subsequent starting of the press except at threadingspeed.

24. In a controller or power operated mechanism, motors for causing themecha- 9b nism to operate at dilierent speeds, means for controlling theoperation and speeds of the motors, and means for automatically stoppingsaid mechanism under predetermined "conditions and permitting it to besubsequently started and operated at slow speed onlywhile the stoppingconditions continue.

Ina controller for power operated mechanism, motors for causing themeehanism to'operate at different speeds, means for controlling theoperation and speeds of the motors, and means for automatically stoppingsaid n'iechanism under predetermined conditions and permitting saidmechanism to be subsequently started and operated at threading speedunder either the original or the changed conditions.

26. In a controller for power operated mechanism, motors for causing themecha- 5 nism to operate at diil'erent speeds, means for controlling theoperation and speeds of the motors, and means for automatically stoppingsaid mechanism under predetermined conditions and permitting saidmechanism to be subsequently started and operated at threading speedunder the initial or changed conditions and afterward at operating speedon the restoration of the original conditions.

27. In a controller for power operated mechanism, motors for causing themecha nism to operate at a slow speed or a relatively high speed, meansfor controlling the operation and speeds of the motorsfand g o means forautomatically stopping said mechanism under predetermined changedconditions but permitting said mechanism to be subsequently started andoperated at slow speed under all conditions and at high speed uponrestoration of the initial conditions. I 28. In a controller for poweroperated de I vices, in combination motors for causing,the device'to'operate at a slow speed or a relatively high speed, means forcontrolling the operation and speeds of the motors, and means associatedtherewith to automatically stop the device under predeterminedconditions, but to permit the device to be subse quently started andoperated at a slow speed while such conditions prevail.

, 29. In a controller for power operated de vices, in combination meansfor starting and the effectiveness of said first mentioned means to varythe speed of the device.

30. In a controller for power operated devices, in combination anelectroresponsive switch for causing the device to be operated at a slowspeed, an electroresponsive switch for causing the device to be-operatedat a relatively highspeed, a master switch for energizing one or theother of said switches, and means adapted to automatically operate underpredeterminedconditions to deenergize one or both. of said firstmentioned switches and to render said master. switch ineiiective tocause closure of said second mentioned switch so long as said conditionsprevail, said first mentioned switch being always responsive to saidmaster switch irrespective of said means.

31. In a controller for power operated devices, in combination anelectroresponsive switch adapted to cause the device to be operated at aslow speed, an electroresponsive switch adapted to cause the device tobe operated at a relatively high speed, and means associated therewithadapted to automatically operate under predetermined conditions todeenergize both of said switches, the deenergization of saidsecondmentioned switch leaving the device in condition for theestablishment of a circuit for operating the. first mentioned switchindependently of saidmeans, whereby said first mentioned switch may beagain energized while said conditions prevail.

32. In a controller for a device having a slow speed motor and arelatively high speed motor for driving the same, in combination meansfor controlling both motors at will and'means adapted to automaticallyoperate under predetermined conditions to cause both motors to bedisconnected from circuit and to prevent subsequent operation o f. thehigh speed motor.so long as said condltlons prevail, said firstmentioned means being efiective to restart the slow speed motor ir-'respective of said conditions.

33. In a controller for power operated printing presses and the like, incombination means for causing the press to be operated at a slow speedor a relatively high speed, and a switch adapted to automaticallyoperate upon breakage orsagging of the web of the press to cause thepress to be stopped, said means being adapted to restart the press, butsaid switch until reset restricting the speed of the press obtainablewith web of the press to cause all of the driving I -motors to bestopped, and when reset necessitating first the restarting of the motorfor driving the press at slow speed before starting the motor fordriving athigh speed.

35. A controller for printing presses and the likehaving means forcausing the press to operate at slow .or comparatively high speed asdesired, automatic means for stopping the operation of the press undercertain conditions and preventing the operation of the press at highspeed while said conditions continue, and means for causing the press tooperate at slow speed while its operation at high speed: is prevented.

36. A controller for printing presses and the like having means forcausing the press to operate at different speeds, automatic means fordiscontinuing the operation of.

the press when predetermined conditions arise and when the press isoperating'at high speed, and means for causing the press to operate atlower speed while higher speed is prevented.

37. A controller for printing presses and the like provided withinitially disconnected means for operating the press in different speedranges, means for causing the press to 4 .either range of speeds, andmeans brought into action in operating the press at only one range ofspeed, whereby undue deviation high speed operation automatically breaksthe circuits of both magnets.

t). The combination with a press provided with means for operating it athigh speed and means for operating it at slow speed, of an electromagnetcontrolling the operation at high speed, an electromagnet controllingthe operation at slow speed, devices under the operators control forthrowing either means into action, and devices out of'ccmmission whenthe press is running at slow speed whereby at high speed of the pressdeviation of the web at a given point automatically cuts oif theapplication of power to the press.

The combination with a press provided with means for operating it athigh speed and means for operating it at slow speed, of an electromagnetcontrolling the operation at high speed, an electromagnet controllingthe operation at slow speed, de-

, vices under the operators control for thronging either means intoaction, devices out of onnnission when the press is" running at slowspeed whereby at high speed of the press deviation of the web at a givenpoint automatically cuts 0d the applibation of power to the press, andmeans for preventing further application of power;. thereto without theintervention of an attenglant.

42. The combination with a mac ine in which a web passes therethrough,of driving means therefor adapted to drive the ma-- chine at ditl'eren'tspeeds, and means to automatically stop the machine upon breakage of theweb and prohibit operating the machine except at a threading speed untilthe web has again been re-threaded through the machine and brought undertension.

43. The combination with a printing press of driving means therefor,means for cans-- ing the press to be operated at,.diiferent speeds, andmeans operating upon breakage of the web to stop the press and render itimpossible to operate p;ees;again at any other speed than the threadingspeed until the/ web has again been re-threaded through the press.

4A. The combination with a machine through which a web passes, ofdriving means therefor to drive the machine at threading or operatingspeeds, and means to stop the machine automatically upon breakage of theWeb and preventing said machine being accelerated beyond threading speeduntil the web is re-thrcaded through the machine.

45. In combination with a machine in which aweb passestherethrough, ofmeans for driving the machine at operating and threading speeds, meansrendered operable by the occurrence of abnormal conditions in the webfor stopping the machine, and means for allowing the machine to berestarted only at threading speed during the continuance of the abnormalconditions.

' 46 The combination with a machine through which a web passes, ofdriving means therefor adapted to drive the machine at threading and atoperating speeds, means to stop the machine automatically upon breakageof the web, and means'preventing said machine from being acceleratedbeyond threading speed exceptupon the rethread ing of the web.

47. In combination with a machine in which a web passes therethrough, ofmeans for driving the .machirfe at operating and threading speeds, meansrendered operable by the breaking of the web for. stopping the machine,and means for allowing the machine to be restarted only at threadingspeed before the web is rethreaded.

#18. The combination with a machine through which a web passes ofdriving means therefor adapted to drive the machine at threading and atoperating speeds, means to stop the machine automatically upon breakageof the web and necessitating the operation of the machine at threadingspeed before it can be run again at operating speed.

5L9. In a controller for power machines operating upon a web of materialthe combination of means for drivingthe machine at different speeds,means for controllingth'e speeds at which the machine is driven, meansfor automatically stopping "the machine when the web breaks, and meanspermitting the machine to be restarted and runat threading speedswhether, or not the web is rethreaded.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceof two witnesses.

THOMAS H. RODMAN.

Witnesses:

LAURA Sic-1TH, H. NISI-HJNG.

